Well drawn characters with a plot that had lots of twists! A very readable story, just when I thought I knew where the story was going, I found I had be led up the garden path again. Most of us find it hard to resist passing on a bit of gossip and this story shows the danger of passing on rumours. An excellent first novel.

The Rumour is a very enjoyable read.

When single mother Joanna returns to the seaside town of Flinstead with her young son Alfie, she’s looking forward to a new start and being near her mother. Joanna is struggling to fit into her new life after living in London and in a bid to make life easier for her son she engages in gossip at the school gate. It does get them accepted by the ‘in crowd’ but it places them in danger.
Joanna was a character I liked instantly. I sympathised with her predicament, she regretted what she said and she did it without thinking about the consequences. That people who were innocent could be accused of terrible things and have their lives ruined.
It is one of those novels that makes you suspect everybody. There is a threat from more than one person. It only has short chapters and was very quick to read. Most of it is told by Joanna’s point of view but there are also glimpses of Sally and you see how she is coping with possible exposure.

The topic is a difficult one. A child killer who herself was a child and who has been released whilst still young and the victim’s family seeing them lead a normal life. But the author shows both sides, that the killer has far from a normal life.

A brilliant debut novel that I couldn’t put down. Thank you for letting me read it.

What a great first book ... I thoroughly enjoyed this book, right from the first page and I am a sucker for a good thriller and this book had some really good twists that I never expected. I found the characters to be interesting and the plot is something you might imagine could happen to anyone. Its something we can all relate to gossiping with the mums at the school gate and then one thing leading to another and a rumour gaining ground, and this book really showing how one rumour can really start a chain of events.

Cant wait to see what else Lesley Kara has to offer in the future

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Right from the start of the book the usual chatter amongst the school mums was so believable. What followed had me suspecting every adult character in the book. Just the way I like a book!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and for a debut novel it is extremely impressive. Joanna, who has recently relocated to a small village with her son Alfie, keen to fit in with the other school mums, repeats a rumour she has heard in the playground. Apparently, a woman who killed a 10 year old boy when she herself was a young teenager, lives within the community. This rumour spreads like wildfire, irrevocably affecting the lives of many of the residents of the town.
An accurate and intriguing portrayal of how rumour and suspicion can wreak havoc upon innocent people, raising interesting questions about the creation of new identities for murderers. An enjoyable and interesting book, but also very sad. The background of some of the characters was heartbreaking, with some horrific portrayals of child abuse leading to very damaged characters. I would certainly recommend this book.

A book that started as fantastically as it ended. I'm a sucker for anything that goes into the process and mind of an ex-criminal and I loved how this book unfolded that idea from a rumour to the truth. To be completely honest, it a was a book that kept me guessing throughout and there aren't many books that do that!

Dramatic psychological thriller with plenty of twists even the best detective won't spot them all! Joanna has moved out of London to a small seaside village to be close to her mum for help looking after her 6 year-old son Alfie. He is having trouble fitting in so she tries to help by getting friendly with other mums, joining book group and gossiping about snippets of a rumour she's heard, McGowan lives in our village.
50 years ago Sally McGowan killed a child when she was only 10 years old, and now lives under identity protection in their village, so the rumour goes. Snippets of info here and there allow Joanna to gain access to the babysitter club, but with what consequences? Now her partner gets involved as a reporter he wants the story, but what will it cost them?
Fast paced story with plenty of drama, good 4stars

When single mum Joanna hears a rumour at the school gates, she never intends to pass it on. But one casual comment leads to another and now there’s no going back . . .

Rumour has it that a notorious child killer is living under a new identity, in their sleepy little town of Flinstead-on-Sea.

Sally McGowan was just ten years old when she stabbed little Robbie Harris to death forty-eight years ago – no photos of her exist since her release as a young woman.

So who is the supposedly reformed killer who now lives among them? How dangerous can one rumour become? And how far will Joanna go to protect her loved ones from harm, when she realizes what it is she’s unleashed?

I did enjoy this book, but I did get confused at a few of the characters and I also felt it went a bit off course a couple of times. I suspect this was due to the author trying to throw in some red herrings. Still recommended though.

3.5 stars.

Psychological thrillers are one of my favourite book genres. I especially enjoy reading debut novels as I see it as chance to read something new, fresh and exciting.

In 1969, 10 year old Sally McGowan killed 5 year old Robbie Harris. After serving her time she was released back into the world with a new identity. She is now happily settled with her family in Flinstead, her real identity unknown to anyone.

That is until Joanne relocates to the town after her son was bullied at school in London. She struggles to fit in with the other mums and is keen to fit in. In the hope it will get her some new friends she begins to spread a rumour she’s heard that Sally McGowan is now living among them.

The rumour spreads out of control and innocent people begin to be targeted. The book follows the impact on Joanne, her son and the whole town. It teaches a lesson in morality – do not gossip or spread rumours!

This was outstanding for a debut novel and I wasn’t sure who Sally really was until it was revealed near the end. Full of twists and turns, I recommend this book if you enjoy thrillers that keep you guessing.

This was a very good debut novel. Joanna leaves London with her young son and moves to the small seaside town she grew up in and also to be near her mother. Joanna hears a rumour that a child killer Sally McGowan who, when she was 10 years old, stabbed a 5 year old boy to death is now living in their area under a new identity. Without thinking, Joanna repeats this rumour to some of the mums at her Book Club. Before long the rumour is spreading and opens up a can of worms with alarming consequences. This book is full of twists and turns, realistic characters, a great plot and a massive twist at the end. A highly recommended read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I love the fact that The Rumour was set in a school yard setting, where the story is based on one piece of gossip. Torn between wanting to fit in and trying to be a good person, Joanna uses a few pieces of gossip to get what she wants. But everything has a price, and this might be one that she does not want to pay.
Love the mysterious setting, and the twist, not that I was surprised, but it was a good style writing

I raced through this book, which showed the long reaching consequences of of spreading rumours, even with just one comment. Joanna Critchley hears that notorious child killer, Sally McGowan, who murdered 5 year old Robbie when she was only 10 years old, may be living under an assumed identity in the quiet seaside town where Jo grew up and where she has returned to live near her mother with her 6 year old son. Jo and her son Alfie, remain friendly with Alfie's dad, Michael who is in London. Jo tries to fit in, for Alfie's sake, with the other mothers at the school gates. As the story unfolds we are thrown several hooks. Who is Sally? And why is someone targeting Jo with malicious tweets. Michael is a journalist and decides to take up the story. We view everyone we meet with suspicion - who can it be? I didn't see the answer until it was staring me in the face. I held my breath for a while! A fabulous debut novel.

EXCERPT: It's happening again. Don't ask me how I know, I just do. I see it in the roll of the waves, the way they're bearing in at a slant. Fast. Restless. I feel it in the nip of the air on my skin, smell it in the rotting leaves and damp earth, hear it in the silence of the watching crows. You're coming for me again and there's nothing I can do to stop you.

This is how it happens. One night I go to bed and everything's fine. Everything's under control. The story has ceased to be a story. It's real. Solid. Unbreakable. Then I wake up and it's changed. Cracks have appeared overnight and I realize that I've been fooling myself all this time, that I've only ever been the most fragile of constructions.

I 'm the hunted. I'll always be the hunted.

ABOUT THIS BOOK: When single mum Joanna hears a rumour at the school gates, she never intends to pass it on. But one casual comment leads to another and now there’s no going back . . .
Rumour has it that a notorious child killer is living under a new identity, in their sleepy little town of Flinstead-on-Sea.

Sally McGowan was just ten years old when she stabbed little Robbie Harris to death forty-eight years ago – no photos of her exist since her release as a young woman.

So who is the supposedly reformed killer who now lives among them? How dangerous can one rumour become? And how far will Joanna go to protect her loved ones from harm, when she realizes what it is she’s unleashed?

MY THOUGHTS: We have all been guilty of gossip, of spreading unsubstantiated rumours, with little thought of the lives we might be disrupting. 'One casual remark. One whispered confidence. That's all it takes to set the wheels in motion and change the course of a life.' We may not intend to hurt anyone, we may just be desperate to fit in, as Joanna is. After all, they are only words, and if the person is guilty, then aren't they getting their just desserts?

I have often been loud and vocal in my opposition to name suppression and the creation of new identities for criminals being released into an unsuspecting community. The Rumour gave me pause to reconsider my views but, ultimately, I have stood by them. I do love a book that makes me stop and think while still being a good entertaining read.

This is an incredibly well written debut novel that sucked me in and kept me captivated until it spat me out at the last page. I suspected everyone of being the child killer, everyone that is except the person who it actually was. . . And even then, it wasn't over. Lesley Kara wasn't finished with me. She had one final surprise that left me with my jaw dropped and wanting more.

Definitely an author I will be following closely.

💖💕💖💕💖

THE AUTHOR: Lesley Kara is the author of THE RUMOUR, published in December 2018.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Bantam Press via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Rumour for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

Wow, what a page turner The Rumour is. New to the area, single mother Jo is desperate to fit it and make friendships. She decides to spread some gossip she has heard about a child killer who as an adult has been released and may live in the community. Jo instantly regrets talking about this but she has let the genie loose from the lamp and the small town begins to implode upon itself.
This thriller with a twist was inspired by real events and Lesley Kara handles this fictional tale really well. You care about the characters and it makes you think how you would react in the same situation. But this is also a page turner of a book which leaves you wanting more.
As a debut thriller this ticks all of the boxes and I look forward to Lesley's next novel and recommend it to anyone who enjoys this genre.

To be completely honest, I became quite uncomfortable whilst reading this book, put it down and started reading another - but returned to it and gave it another go.
Joanna, a single mother, has recently moved home to be closer to her mother who helps with childcare. Her son’s father, a journalist, is still in the picture and decides to move to join her.
Whilst at the school gates she overhears some gossip that a notorious child killer may be living in the local area after release from prison. Discussing it at home with her partner, he explains how people change their names, move to small villages and get new jobs to integrate back into society..
She joins in the discussion at the school gate, but can’t help herself from spreading rumours to try to fit in with the other school mothers. Her journalist partner sees a story and begins to investigate, Joanna begins to see connections to the child killer in some of the people she meets, as do others resulting in innocent people being accused and attacked.
When the person is revealed it isn’t quite who Joanna expected it to be - and the unexpected twist at the very end was a genuine surprise.
The gossipmongering and rumours made me uncomfortable, although I’m sure that was the authors intention. I’m glad I persevered, as it turned into a decent read.

Just finished reading The Rumour - what a debut - what damage can be caused by fuelling rumours - a lesson to be learned! Joanna moves to Flinstead with her young son Alfie to be nearer to her mother. As mother and son struggle to fit in Joanna joins in in spreading a rumour about a child killer possibly living in their area. Of course, suddenly everyone is a suspect and things get out of hand.
Plenty of suspects in this tale and it is easy to suspect first one person and then another. Cleverly plotted. Plenty of twists!
Can't wait for the next book by this author.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Lesley Kara/Random House UK for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

I would firstly like to thank Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

When single mum Joanna hears a rumour at the school gates, she never intends to pass it on. But one casual comment leads to another and now there's no going back.....
Rumour has it that a notourious child killer is living under a new identity, in their sleepy little town of Flimstead-on-Sea. Sally McGowan was just ten years old when she stabbed little Robbie Harris to death fourty-eight years ago - no photos of her exist since her release as a young woman. So who is the supposedly reformed killer who now lives among them? How dangerous can one rumour become? And how far will Joanna go to protect her loved ones from harm, when she realizes what it is she's unleashed?

What a fantastic debut novel from this author! There was no slow build-up, just a very intriguing story that snatches your attention immediately. I was gripped right to the very last page and honestly didn't see that reveal coming at all! I was constantly guessing throughout and I still got it wrong!
I really think that this book will connect with nearly every reader. Not only has Lesley Kara written a addictive page-turner that is unputdownable, but she has also created a situation that anyone can be in. I'm sure everyone has started or been on the receiving end of a dreadful rumour before, and this book really does make you think about the consequences that rumours cause. It's a ripple effect. Just amazing writing!

With it's addictive heart-pounding plot, very unpredictable ending, and powerful thought-provoking story-telling; Lesley Kara is definitely an author to watch. Looking forward to her next!

A thriller that starts off with a rumour - how much trouble can a small rumour really cause? Joanna wants to fit in with the other school mums so her son can fit in, and spreads a little gossip about notorious child killer Sally. Is she close? Does she live in our town? I love guessing who the 'baddie' is in books like this - I guessed it wrongly about 3 times, each time feeling very clever because I'd worked it out already. I'm very pleased to admit I was wrong, a really enjoyable thriller.

This was a really interesting premise for a b0ok and explored something which I don't think is touched on much. It definitely showed how much damage a rumour can do; whether it be true or not. I fouund myself really invested in Joanna and what was going on with her, although I did see the 'twist' coming in the end. Well worth the read!

When Joanna Critchley hears a rumour at the school gates, she dismisses it as idle gossip. The sort that she wouldn’t usually associate herself with.

But Joanna has only recently returned to Flinstead after moving back from London, and her son Alfie is struggling to make friends at school.

If Joanna can get in with 'in crowd' of Mum's at school, then Alfie will have invitations to parties galore, and instantly become more popular.

Joanna should hate herself for what she is about to do, but she is desperate, and desperate people do desperate things ... particularly for the ones that they love.

Sally McGowan, was ten years old when she stabbed five year old Robbie Harris to death. She claimed it was an accident, but the jury didn’t believe her, and she has faced public judgement and persecution ever since.

Speculation has always been rife about where Sally might be residing in the present day, and what kind of person she is now. The latest rumour is that she is living in Flinstead, and it’s a rumour that doesn’t sit well with the locals.

Particularly not Joanna and her new friends ...

I can’t say too much more as I don’t want to give anything away. But this book will definitely make you think the next time you hear a bit of ‘juicy’ gossip.